As the threat of an all-out trade war looms upon the heads of all the major economies in the world, the European Union (EU)'s top officials will meet the leaders of Japan and China next week to boost economic relations.

The trip will be undertaken by EU Council Donald Tusk and Commission head Jean-Claude Juncker, and includes the signing of a free trade deal with Japan, said to be "the biggest ever negotiated by the European Union". The open trade zone expected to be created by the deal will cover nearly one-third of the world's GDP.

The Japanese meeting will also involve discussions of a united front against the US over its tariffs, following Trump administration's "America First" policy, which the Japanese government has already slammed as deplorable.

The two EU leaders will meet with Chinese President Xi Jinping and Premier Li Keqiang to discuss the situation with Washington, and to reaffirm their support for the World Trade Organisation, which is facing extreme criticism from the US President.

The two parties will also discuss climate change and China's own restrictive market, along with nuclear issues with North Korea and Iran.

(Featured Image – 123Rf)